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Documents: Toyota boasted saving $100M on recall

By By The Associated Press

Story Created: Feb 22, 2010 at 9:10 AM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 22, 2010 at 9:10 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) - New documents shared with congressional investigators could raise concerns on Capitol Hill that Toyota was more concerned with profits than safety.

Toyota officials claimed they saved the company $100 million by successfully negotiating with the government on a limited recall of floor mats in some Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

The savings are listed under the title, "Wins for Toyota - Safety Group." The document cites millions of dollars in other savings by delaying safety regulations, avoiding defect investigations and slowing down other industry requirements.

The world's largest automaker has been criticized for responding too slowly to safety concerns that led to the recall of millions of vehicles. The company's president will appear before Congressional committees this week.

A Toyota statement insists safety is the company's first priority.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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